Meet a College Football Playoff participants

Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jarran Reed (90) reacts after a play opposite a Missouri Tigers in a initial entertain of a 2014 SEC Championship Game during a Georgia Dome.(Photo: Brett Davis,USA TODAY Sports)

How they got here: A indolent start to a deteriorate saw Alabama remove to Mississippi and onslaught opposite unranked Arkansas to tighten a initial half during 5-1. The Crimson Tide have given won 7 in a row, including a feat opposite Missouri to explain a Southeastern Conference championship, to finish initial in a final College Football Playoff rankings. With a offense now clicking underneath coordinator Lane Kiffin and a invulnerability always dangerous when given additional time to prepare, a Crimson Tide might be a favorites to win a fourth inhabitant championship underneath Nick Saban. With an 8-3 record in discussion championship games and play games given Saban’s attainment in 2007, it’s transparent Alabama prepares for vital foe as good as any module in a country.

Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) celebrates with right ensure Jake Pisacrik (76) and right tackle Matt Pierson (62) after scoring a touchdown in a third entertain opposite a Arizona Wildcats in a Pac-12 Championship during Levi’s Stadium. The Ducks won 51-13.(Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 2 Oregon

Record: 12-1 (8-1)

Coach, record: Mark Helfrich (23-3)

Semifinal matchup: No. 3 Florida State in a Rose Bowl

All-time record vs. Florida State, final meeting: First meeting

Best win: 46-27 vs. Michigan State on Sept. 6

Worst performance: 31-24 detriment vs. Arizona on Oct. 4

How they got here: With a difference of one hiccup, a seven-point detriment to Arizona in October, no group in college football has looked as dominant. Led by quarterback Marcus Mariota, a complicated favorite to win a Heisman Trophy, Oregon’s offense has been a many prolific in propagandize history. Though a invulnerability has had a ups and downs, a Ducks successfully slowed down a high-powered offenses in a Pac-12 Conference. After avenging that progressing detriment to Arizona in a Pac-12 pretension game, Oregon can surveillance wins opposite a Wildcats, Michigan State, UCLA, Stanford and Utah. Oregon can also surveillance another advantage unmatched in college football: Mariota.

How they got here: It was never easy for Florida State, that struggled to nick wins opposite a slew of defective antithesis — North Carolina State, Miami (Fla.), Boston College and Florida, to name a few. Yet a Seminoles finished their deteriorate where many expected: unbeaten, atop a Atlantic Coast Conference and in one of dual inhabitant semifinals. In a sense, that FSU had to blemish and scratch to extend a 29-game winning strain should come in accessible during a postseason; a Seminoles have a knowledge indispensable to lift out a close, firmly contested diversion in a fourth quarter. But there’s any reason to consider FSU will need to ramp adult a opening to compare wits with Oregon in a Rose Bowl.

How they got here: In what might be a excellent coaching pursuit of Urban Meyer’s career, Ohio State survived injuries to dual starting quarterbacks — initial Braxton Miller, afterwards J.T. Barrett — to eke into a Playoff. Now that they’re in a tip four, a Buckeyes contingency continue to tailor a offense to fit Cardale Jones, a latest starter underneath center. If this deteriorate has taught us anything, however, it’s that Ohio State’s ability to measure points on any competition can't be overlooked. The Buckeyes scored during slightest 31 points in any of their final 12 games after losing to Virginia Tech in September. With plenty time to ready for Alabama, a Buckeyes’ offense will sojourn really dangerous.